# Libertatis Sacra Fames explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Oscar Wilde.

## What happens

The speaker reflects on the tension between democracy and autocracy, expressing a preference for the rule of a single sovereign over the chaos of anarchy and demagoguery. They criticize those who would destroy art, culture, and reverence in the name of a misguided liberty.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Redemption

The poem laments the loss of 'Arts, Culture, Reverence, Honour' under anarchic rule, suggesting a societal suffering that might require redemption through order.

## Key lines

> Better the rule of One, whom all obey, / Than to let clamorous demagogues betray / Our freedom with the kiss of anarchy.

It is preferable to have a single ruler who is obeyed by everyone than to allow loud political agitators to undermine our freedom by promoting chaos.

_The speaker contrasts monarchy with the dangers of demagoguery and anarchy._

> I love them not whose hands profane / Plant the red flag upon the piled-up street / For no right cause, beneath whose ignorant reign / Arts, Culture, Reverence, Honour, all things fade, / Save Treason and the dagger of her trade, / Or Murder with his silent bloody feet.

I do not admire those who desecrate the streets by raising the red flag of revolution without just cause, as under their ignorant rule, art, culture, respect, and honor all disappear, leaving only treason and murder.

_The speaker condemns revolutionary movements that destroy civilization and replace it with violence._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/libertatis-sacra-fames
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_18_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters